Considerable interindividual variation in the response of blood pressure to exercise has been found. Factors independently contributing to this variation are insufficiently evaluated. This is especially true for women and older age groups. Reference values of progressive maximal exercise testing in middle-aged, active subjects, especially in women, are scarce. In this study, the response of systolic arterial blood pressure during a progressive maximal cycle ergometer test was investigated in 871 physically active female subjects aged 40 years or older with normal, borderline elevated and elevated blood pressure. The influence of 14 different subject characteristics on this response was studied: 63% of variation in exercise systolic blood pressure (eSBP) could be explained by work load, pre-eSBP, age and exercise heart rate. No difference in eSBP with increasing work load was found between the three groups. Subjects with higher exercise heart rates had higher systolic blood pressures at the same work load compared to subjects with lower exercise heart rates. Maximal working capacity (Wmax) was significantly lower in the elevated blood pressure group although maximal heart rate and lactate were similar. Wmax was age-dependent. Other subject variables were not significantly associated with eSBP. Values of eSBP for reference purposes are presented.